Shloka 16

Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ

The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account

Devanagari script

अनारम्भे हि नियतो भवेदगुणनिश्चय: । गुणान्नि:संशयाद्‌ राजन्‌ नैर्गुण्यं मन्यसे कथम्‌,यदि हम यज्ञका आरम्भ नहीं करते हैं तो निश्चय ही हमारी अयोग्यता एवं दुर्बलता प्रकट होती है; अतः राजन! सुनिश्चित गुणकी उपेक्षा करके आप निर्गुणताका कलंक क्‍यों स्वीकार कर रहे हैं? इति श्रीमहाभारते सभापर्वणि राजसूयारम्भपर्वणि जरासंधवधमन्त्रणे षोडशो<ध्याय:

Transliteration

anārambhe hi niyato bhaved aguṇa-niścayaḥ | guṇān niḥsaṁśayād rājan nairguṇyaṁ manyase katham ||

Translation

ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ನಾವು ಯಜ್ಞವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸದೆ ಹೋದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಣವೂ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವೂ ಇಲ್ಲವೆಂಬುದು ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ ತೀರ್ಪಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ, ರಾಜನೇ, ಖಚಿತವಾದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠತೆಯನ್ನು ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿ ‘ನಿರ್ಗುಣ’—ಅಂದರೆ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯದ ವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡದವನು—ಎಂಬ ಕಲಂಕವನ್ನು ಏಕೆ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತೀರಿ?

Word by Word

अनारम्भेin (the state of) non-beginning / without undertaking

हिindeed / for

नियतःcertain / inevitable

भवेत्would be / may become

अगुणनिश्चयःascertainment of lack of merit / certainty of unfitness

गुणात्from merit / from good qualities

निःसंशयात्from certainty / without doubt

राजन्O king

नैर्गुण्यम्lack of merit / deficiency of qualities

मन्यसेyou think / you consider

कथम्how? / why?

यदिif

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Arjuna argues that refusing to begin a rightful undertaking invites a firm judgment of weakness and lack of virtue; ethical leadership requires timely action rather than accepting the reproach of inaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the context of planning the Rājasūya, Arjuna urges the king to proceed with the necessary initiative, warning that not commencing the enterprise will be seen as incapacity and will undermine royal honor and purpose.